Monday, September 30, 2013

And The Winner Is...

Well, first, the process was...
12 comments on the blog...12 pieces of paper...I was going to do a random number generator, but I couldn't find one that I could post a picture of the winning number on the blog...so we went low tech...

12 bits of paper in my coffee canister...(yes, that is coffee dust at the bottom...don't judge me...)

my arm stretching for the coffee jar...no peeking occurred...

And number 3 is the winner...

If you go look at the comments from yesterday, #3 comment (counting from the top of course) is Jackie Beeman!!!  So congratulations and HOORAY FOR JACKIE BEEMAN!!!

I wish everybody could be the prize winner.  Everybody is so kind and I appreciate you all so much!  I don't think I could have accomplished all the faces if it weren't for your sweet and supportive comments!

Here's all 29 Faces (in order) in case you missed them:
1-9


10-18

19-27


28-29 and THANK YOU!!!

I'm happy to have gotten to meet some new folks and enjoy their gorgeous art through the 29 Faces challenge.  I was so busy making faces that I know I missed a lot of people and a lot of art, so I am planning on going back through all the links on the 29 Faces site and making sure I see it all!

Thank you again for checking out my art and I hope you'll come back and visit me.  I don't normally post every day, but I try not to let a week go by without making something and sharing it.  I plan on having more giveaways in the future, so if you didn't win this time, you'll have a shot again!  

Also, I just want to say on a personal note, in addition to the 29 faces challenge, I also completed my 30 posts in 30 days do-over challenge.  I actually finished two things!!!  *insert shocked gasp here* I'm so proud of myself!    Ok, ok, enough patting myself on the back... 

Now I'm off to work on some promised projects...and some messy, messy art journal pages...heck, maybe even some crochet or sewing...who knows what all will happen...until next time, my fellow artists...

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Hooray Giveaway...Face 29 of 29


29 faces

Here's face #29:

My nose is really cute.

And with that, I shout a triumphant HOORAY!!!!  I finished the 29 Faces Challenge...one face a day for 29 days is done and done!  Huzzah!!!  *high fives self then does happy dance...for at least five minutes*

So...now that 29 Faces is done...and it happens to be September 29th...and since I only mentioned it a few times *eye roll*...
It's time for the surprise prize giveaway!!!

So, after all that build up, here's what's up for grabs:



It looks like a really interesting next challenge, and I thought maybe somebody out there might like to have a copy as well.  I've had great fun making my faces for the past month, and I do love my simple line drawings and white space...but I think I"m ready for some layers and some busy pages and some messes again...and I think this book will be just the thing to have some fun with...

So, if you would like to win a copy of the book, please just leave a comment below and let me know you'd like to be in the drawing!  That's it!  Then come back tomorrow and see if you are the lucky winner!

Until tomorrow, my friends! <3


Saturday, September 28, 2013

I See Me In You...Face 28 of 29


29 faces


Here's face# 28:


"She hoped he knew she was not being peevish, her mouth just hurt from dental work."
Thank you to my fantastic friend Anna for the interesting papers, the pad of 'Facsimile Transmittal Memo' sheets, and the ALL the other totally awesome things in the care package she sent.  I used to think I was good at packing things, but Anna's skill in filling every nook and cranny of the box is honestly a superhero level of skill...seriously, she must have been bitten by a radioactive Tetris game or something!  Thank you, my Anna!!!

When I first started drawing faces...way, way back when I was beginning art journaling...someone told me that a lot of people tend to make faces that look like them, autobiographical faces if you will, when they begin drawing.  I guess I was/am kind of odd, because my faces don't usually have that leaning.   Even the self-portraits I've attempted don't really look too much like me.  But when I was gluing today's face into Gregg, I realized that she resembles me a little bit...in the mouth anyway.  We've both got swollen cheeks and pursed lips...from dental work.

This girl is done in colored pencils, and I like how they look on the brown paper.  I also love the papers in the background that came in a care package from my friend Anna...they are just gorgeous!  Anna sent me an insanely stuffed box of things...I have goodies to use for the next 200 years, just from this box alone!  It was so much fun to open it and poor through all the fun stuff!  Thanks my sweet Anna!

So...tomorrow is the 29th!  That means just one more face!  That also means that it will finally, finally, FINALLY be time for the surprise prize giveaway!  So don't forget to come back tomorrow for the reveal!

Until tomorrow... (excited squeal!!!)  

Friday, September 27, 2013

Envious or Miss Martian?...Face 27 of 29


29 faces


Face #27:


Pencil sketch...
Colorized!

I'm not sure whether this girl is green with envy or if I've been watching too many Young Justice reruns, and she's my interpretation of Miss Martian.  (Young Justice is a cartoon...Justice League...comic books...the nerdery never ends with me, I know...)  

Either way, I like her a lot.  I'm happy she's greenish and pinkish.  I used my shimmery watercolors (or faux Twinkling H2O's, if you prefer), which are watercolor with sparkles in them.  You can see the sparkly a little bit in the photo, but in real life, she's EXTREMELY shiny.  So that's pretty fun, I think...shimmer, not bling...(ugh...I hate the word 'bling').  

Just two more faces to go!  Can you believe it?!?  Two more faces and two more days until the surprise prize reveal!  The anticipation has been building for me, and hopefully for you guys too...  I am so excited!

Until tomorrow... 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Mucha Inspired...Face 26 of 29


29 faces


Face 26 of 29 is inspired by Mucha:


One day to be colorized...just not today...
I first heard about/saw Mucha's work (you can read about him and see some of his work HERE) on "Antiques Roadshow" many years ago.  I really loved this style of art...Art Nouveau...right away.  Hence today's Mucha inspired face.  

Eventually I will color her in, but I went to the dentist yesterday and had three teeth pulled...for joy...which was a total surprise.  I thought I was done with extractions.  But clearly my teeth really do hate me and wanted to leave...and who am I to stop them.  So I am in no mood for coloring in this girl.  But I do love her very much, and eventually, she will be colorized.

Until tomorrow... 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Kate...Face 25 of 29


29 faces


Face #25 is Kate:


"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased."
-Katharine Hepburn

This is yet another page inspired by things I've seen on Pinterest, both the image and the quote.  I am really in love with this girl...or as Katharine Hepburn would say, "RAEL-LY".  I love her sassy hands on hips, and the expression on her face...she just looks like she's determined to do what SHE wants to do!

I've always been a fan of old movies, and Katharine Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses.  I think in all the parts she played, she really just played herself...and, to me, she must have been an interesting bird indeed.  Plus, we have (in large part) good ole Kate to thank for making it acceptable/fashionable for women to wear pants...which I am a gigantic fan of...HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

Until tomorrow, my fellow pants-wearing friends...

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Snarky Girl...Face 24 of 29


29 faces


Here's face # 24...the snarky girl:


"Forget about the zombie apocalypse that will never come.
The real epidemic is the douche bag apocalypse that is already upon us."

I saw this quote on an e-card on Pinterest, and thought it was both hilarious and accurate.  Zombies?  Never.  Douche bags...EVERYWHERE!!!  For instance this week, I've gotten into three arguments with my husband.  One about milk, one about chocolate, and one about deodorant.  I am not even kidding.  I know it takes two people to argue, but I live with a six year old in a thirty-one year old's body, so there's a lot of "HEY!HEY!HEY!HEY!HEY!HEY!HEY!" happening...which can only be ignored for so long before having to be dealt with.  I know, I know, it's my fault...I did marry him.  But I was unaware...UNAWARE!!!

It'll be fine...it always is (because I have the patience and forgiving attitude of the most saintliest of saints...), I'm just aggravated to the point of tears today.  Between him, my work schedule, and lack of sleep...ugh...I don't even know.  My only comfort is in ignoring everything and making my faces...I mean, artistically, not sarcastically when the other person turns their back...I don't do that...  OK, maybe an occasional eye roll, but I always do that to the other person's face... (haha)

Plus, just five more days until the surprise prize giveaway...and that makes me happy.  Only five more faces to go and I will have finished something (29 Faces challenge)...only six more posts, and I will have finished two things (my 30 posts in 30 days do-over)!  Yeah, that definitely alleviates some of the angst!!!  

Until tomorrow...

Monday, September 23, 2013

Ink Blot...Face 23 of 29


29 faces


Here's face #23:


Swinging away...

For this girl, I was inspired by Michelle at Inspiration Everywhere (you can see Michelle's adorable ink blot girl HERE).  Michelle sprayed a spot of ink spray on her page and found a face in the ink.  I thought that was a really cool idea, so I tried the same thing using a Dylusions background I had already made.  

I saw this girl swinging away...don't know what that means in the world of Ink Blot tests and psychology, but there you have it...

Until tomorrow, my artistic accomplices...


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Roberta...Face 22 of 29


29 faces


Here's face #22:

Roberta...made with micron pen, watercolors, gelatos, and acrylic paint

I was inspired to make Roberta by this song (Santa Fe by Eilen Jewell):



It's such a sweet, sad sounding song...I needed a sweet and sad face to go with it.

I don't know if she's 100% done, I only know that I am 100% done with her for now.  She's been a little frustrating to me...through no fault of her own.  I just forgot that the art journal I made her in has paper that pills if you use to much wet...so watercolors were probably not the best idea to color her with.

I liked the pencil sketch I had drawn of her, and I really need to remember to take a couple in-progress shots...especially when I've done a sketch I'm really happy with.  I say that to myself all the time, but I always end up forgetting...maybe Roberta will finally be the thing to make me remember!

Hopefully, Roberta will also remind me that, after 29 Faces is over, I really want to work on my handwriting/lettering.  ...I've said it before (at least a million times), but I think I'm really ready now!

Can you believe that there are just seven more faces left and we'll be at #29?  Crazy!  Don't forget to join the celebration on September 29th when the surprise prize will be revealed and you can enter for a chance to win!

Until tomorrow, my friends...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Charlie...Face 21 of 29


29 faces


Face 21 of 29 is a useful one:

Hi!  I'm Charlie the Change Purse.

The wallet I have used forever finally died, and, since I'm...thrifty, I am using a day planner as a replacement.  The problem is that the day planner has room for everything except for change.  And I need change for the snack machine at work.  I've been carrying it in my pockets, which is fine I suppose, but if you can make an adorable change purse, why would you not? 


Please ignore my actual man hands...  I only had a black zipper, so I made it so that the zipper wouldn't show if you were looking at her head on.

I used some fabulous wool felt that I've had for a long time to make her.  The difference between wool felt and acrylic craft felt is HUGE.  Wool felt has a great texture, both visually and to touch...I don't know if anybody can use this info, but if you sew and use felt, try wool felt at least, because there really is a big difference...unless you're allergic to wool...then probably don't use wool felt.  I wouldn't want you getting hives because of me!


As you can see, Charlie is a pretty good sized change purse...I use the snack machine at work A LOT!

I made Charlie without a pattern, and she's entirely hand sewn (because I was too lazy to move the junk from in front of my sewing machine).  I haven't done any hand sewing/embroidery for a good while, and if you sew/embroider, you can tell...look at my sloppy stitches...for shame!  I used to have perfectly even tiny little stitches.  I like to sew and do needlework, and clearly, I need to take it up again, because I am sorely out of practice!  On the positive side, look at those French Knot freckles!  That used to be my favorite stitch when I was a little kid, and I practiced those quite a bit growing up!

I'd seen something very similar to Charlie online so long ago that I am pretty sure I didn't even pin the link (there was a time before Pinterest?!?)...I just printed the picture off.  So if somebody recognizes this, and can tell me the site for the original, that would be wonderful!  The inspiration for her is even cuter than Charlie is, and I remember that the person made actual dolls too (among other things) and that the dolls were even cuter than the little purses.  I'd love to be able to give the person who inspired Charlie credit for the inspiration.

I'm off for today, to go fill Charlie with change in preparation for work on Monday...see you tomorrow! <3


Friday, September 20, 2013

Marge...Face 20 of 29


29 faces


You can't have one without the other!  Face #20:

I couldn't make Homer and not make Marge too!  I gave them both to my husband (Andy) before we went our separate ways (to work) for the day. Andy liked them a lot and was pretty impressed with my drawing skills.  I should mention that he's easily impressed, but really, that's a given.  I am really happy with Homer from yesterday...but Marge could use some work in my eyes. I may make another Marge after the 29 Faces challenge is over, just to satisfy my own internal perfectionist...but I'm trying not to do any repeat faces while the challenge is going on.  And so far, so good.

Until tomorrow, my comrades in art...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Homer...Face 19 of 29


29 faces

Face #19 is a classic:

Woo Hoo!

That's right, it's Homer Simpson!  I made him for my husband (Andy), who's a HUGE Simpsons fan...and in our almost 10 years of marriage, he's forced me to like them too.  FORCED me.  When I was growing up, we didn't watch The Simpsons, so all my vast Simpson's knowledge is a result of watching every episode with Andy...over and over and over...  Sometimes, he and I have entire conversations using only quotes from The Simpsons.  (Yes...we are dorks... *sobbing quietly* ) You know, I've heard that at some point, you run out of room in your brain, and every time you learn something new, your brain erases something to make room for it.  I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I'm scared to think what has been lost to me because of Simpsons trivia...

I've only got 10 more faces left!  I'm so close to actually finishing something!!!  And, really, two things, because I've only got 11 more posts to fulfill my 30 posts in 30 days re-do goal!  Hooray!  

Don't forget to come join in the celebration on the 29th! <3

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Passive Aggressive...Face 18 of 29


29 faces


Here's face #18:

"I stopped caring twenty minutes ago."

In a sick, demented way, I really love this face.  It's her eyes, I think.  I see all the problems with the face (because I'm REALLY good at seeing my own mistakes!), but I don't even care.  I slapped this heifer into my precious Gregg journal anyway.  

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has those times when you're listening to someone talk, and they're just going on and on about something you couldn't possibly care less about, and you just know your face has to look like this girl's face...  I know for a fact I'm not the only one who feels this way, because people give me that blank stare a lot!  BUT, I try to do the right thing and shut up when I am on the receiving end of it.  Some people just have no clue about these facial indicators...or don't care...or just like to hear themselves talk...or whatever the reason...and they just...keep...going........  

There have been times in the past two weeks (the duration, so far, of the inexplicable funk cloud that's been hovering over me) that I am pretty sure my face has stayed like this for the entire work day.  That's weird for me, because I like my job, and, in general, I like the people I work with...and, for the most part, I'm just not one to make this kind of face.  I try to be nice and sweet and empathetic...but I've been failing miserably at it recently...at least by my standards.  Usually I don't have to try too hard to be a decent person...now I'm fighting with all my might not to fling poo at people like an angry monkey.  

I'm feeling a little bit better today, I can tell, because I've been laughing a little.  That's always a good sign, right?  It's either a good sign I'm feeling better, or a good sign that I've gone completely insane...only time will tell, I guess... (ha!)  

Whichever thing it is, just know that I promise I'll keep it together...at least until the 29th when it will be showtime for the surprise prize giveaway!  

Until tomorrow...unless of course, they've got me locked away in a padded room... 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Maggie...Face 17 of 29


29 faces


Here's face 17:

Hi, I'm Maggie.

I'm calling this gal Maggie because underneath the paint, gelatos, and gesso there's a face from a magazine...oh, I'm so clever... (haha)  

Anyway, this is actually a pretty fun technique.  You glue the magazine (or printed) image to a page, then do a light coat of gesso over the magazine page.  Then go over the features with a pencil (at least that's what I do) and then start painting.  Because you've done a thin coat of gesso, you can see where the features and shadows go.  It's actually pretty helpful too if you're having trouble with shading and proportions or some other issue, because you're going right over the photograph and you can still see the important bits...and you could really do it with anything you wanted...it doesn't have to be a face.  So fun stuff, fun stuff...

I wish I would have taken a picture of the magazine face so that you could see how different Maggie is from the original image.  To me that's one of the extra cool things about doing this technique...if you had ten copies of the original image and did this over and over, even though you used the same image, your faces will end up different every time...unless I guess you were REALLY good and you wanted to make the same girl ten times.  But, for the most part, your paintings are going to come out differently.

I like how the nose turned out pretty well...and I like the hair/head scarf situation too...and some of the shading is cool, and her bottom lip is making me really happy!  On the other hand, I'm sad that she's got a bit of the googly eyes going on...and teeth...the teeth situation is questionable as well...but I am a bit disgruntled at my teeth still, so that might have something to do with it... (I CURSE ALL THE TEETH!!!)  

I really liked using the gelatos over the acrylic paint too...they stayed viable and blended super well even if they dried before I got the other color in...they reconstituted well...I hope I am saying that right.  Anyways, if you haven't done it yet, try gelatos over top of acrylic paint...it's fun!

Until tomorrow, my friends... <3<3<3


Monday, September 16, 2013

Little Splash For Amber...Face 16 of 29


29 faces

I mentioned that I was sent a beautiful background by one of my Facebook friends, Amber.  Amber made backgrounds for the ladies in our group, sent them out for us to add our personal touches to, and then we'll mail them back to her.  I finished my piece today.

Here's the beautiful background that Amber made:

This background is so pretty...I really hated to cover even a little part of it up!  

I thought long and hard about what I would make to go on top of Amber's background.  The more I looked at it, the more I thought it looked like a bunch of raindrops splashing in a puddle, sending ripples out in all directions.  I almost made a girl with an umbrella...but that wasn't quite right.

No, the more I thought about it, the more I leaned towards my second thought...that this water was much deeper than a puddle...and that something underneath the water was disturbing the surface instead.  And so it was:

Lo and behold, hiding under the surface of the water was a feisty mermaid in all her half-fish glory.  This is my pencil sketch of her, that I then cut out and glued to the background.  I think that's the wisest course when one is nervous about wrecking something beautiful...make some rough drafts, get it right, and finally, cut and paste once you're happy!


And so in the end, I was very please with this version of the mermaid, who was hiding in the water all along:


Underneath that riotous surface, she was merely making a little splash with her beautiful tail!

I thought about adding more to the piece, but I couldn't bring myself to do it...I loved Amber's background too much...there needed to be plenty of it showing through!  

I used watercolors, faux gelatos and Silks acrylic glazes (as well as some black Microns for the detail work) on Amber's mermaid.  She's got some lovely glimmer to her that the camera just refuses to pick up, so you'll just have to take my word on it...but it's there, all shimmery and pretty in her hair, her eyes, and her tail.

I hope that Amber will enjoy her Little Splash as much as I enjoyed making her...now I'm tasked with another project that will hopefully go as well as Amber's did.  I get a little nervous about adding things to something someone else has already done!  When the work is already so very beautiful, I get scared that I'll go and mess the whole thing up!!!  But, fingers crossed, ...at least till I start to hold the pencil...that my gal pals will like what I add to their already stunning pieces...

Don't forget to come back on the 29th of September for a surprise prize giveaway...in the meantime, I hope you'll be getting some art on, just as I will be doing every day till then.  Until tomorrow, my friends.  <3<3<3

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Cat Woman...Face 15 of 29


29 faces


Face 15 of 29:

"If I were a cat woman, I'd have scratched your eyes out by now."

I think I've thoroughly lost my muse today...or my muse has gone totally crazy...I'm really just not sure which. 
 
I was sitting at my desk this morning, waiting for inspiration to strike.  I was scanning through my file of pictures to use as reference photos, and I found one I thought would be good for today.  I started sketching her with my pencil when my cat (Snick is her name) came in and decided it was time for me to pay attention to her.  

The odd thing about it is that Snick is not really a lovey cat.  She doesn't really want to be held or petted or even acknowledged most of the time.  She wants to come inside, eat her cat food and then be let back outside...and then repeat the cycle when she chooses.  She has no time for human interaction...she only has time for murdering other animals.  But, apparently, murder cats need love too (every great once in a while), because she would just not leave me alone till I paid attention to her. 

So I let her jump up in my lap and tried to pet her and sketch at the same time, but in Snick's opinion, I needed both hands to pet her so she commenced clawing at my pencil and the hand that was holding it until I gave in to her demands.  She was satisfied at last because she had my full attention and rewarded me by quietly purring...she purrs even more rarely than she wants to be touched...and so it went for about five minutes.  At that point she decided she'd had enough, looked up at me with her yellowish cat eyes, bit my hand ever so gently as a thanks for my service and jumped off my lap, meowing demandingly to be let outside.  

So after coming back from letting her out...I have to give in to her demands, she has the most annoying meow in the history of meows...I started to draw this cat lady with her yellow eyes.  I was thinking about how cats just don't care what other people think...no consequences in cat world, really...  And if I were a cat woman, there are several people who's faces I think I would have a field day with...and quite a few I'd snuggle up to as well, but that's a page for a different day.

I don't know that I like this cat lady, but she has given me a rather brilliant idea for a cat lady of a different type to draw...so that's a good thing.  I do like the lower part of her hair and the shadow on her neck though...and I kind of like her fangs too...maybe those things will show up in the next cat lady I draw.  

I'm still working on my piece for my Facebook friend, having had a little gluing setback, but all is going well now and I just need to do a few more things to finish the piece.  I should have her done by tomorrow and then I can mail her on my lunch break at work!  Huzzah!

In the meantime, don't forget to come back on the 29th for the surprise prize giveaway.  I've decided that you don't have to be my follower in order to get in on the giveaway...it makes me seem desperate and needy.  I want people to read the blog because they like it, not because they feel pressured.  And I want to have a giveaway as a thank you to the nice friends I've made by blogging, not to increase my followers or page views or whatever...I want people to come back because I've got good content and they like what they're reading.  Therefore, the only thing you'll need to do to win is to come back on the 29th to see the prize and then (on the 29th) leave a comment saying you want to be entered to win.  And that's it.  

And now I'm off to make more art so that I can post another face tomorrow. Smooches to you all! <3<3<3

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Obscure...Face 14 of 29


29 faces

Face 14 of 29:

"to obscure emotion was becoming a natural reflex; it helped sometimes not to feel at all"...paraphrase from
Truman Capote
I tore a page out of Other Voices, Other Rooms (by Truman Capote) early in the morning today...I couldn't sleep and at 3 in the morning, I finally just got up, figuring I might as well do something relatively constructive.  I didn't get my quiet time last night and BLARG!  I am really ready for quiet time.  I guess 3 AM art kind of qualifies, but I was extremely tired and mostly out of it (like a zombie...a sleepy, sleepy zombie), so it really doesn't...  

I used my faux gelatos on this girl, and it made me remember how much I like those things!  I should use them more often.  I was having trouble seeing the pencil marks on this book page last night, so I think my gal is a little wonky looking...but I do like the colors around her eyes.  The purple and pink and blue look pretty cool.  I stuck her into my Gregg journal with some scrapbook paper to differentiate the words on her page from the words on Gregg's page...and then, of course, some washi tape to stick it all together.

I've got to get working on a piece for a friend of mine from one of the Facebook groups I'm in.  She sent a piece of paper she made a background on, and I'm making something to go on the background and then I'll send it back to her.  I think all the ladies in this particular group are doing this, so when she gets all the pieces back, she's definitely going to have something very special!  I think I am the procrastinator of the group, so I've got to get a move on!  Well, really, I'm not a procrastinator...I just wanted to make the exact right thing for her background and it took me several days of staring at the beautiful background she had made before I could decide what I wanted to make.  But I finally picked, and now it's drawn and just needs colored in and then I can send it on it's merry way.  So I'm off to spritz my watercolors and get them ready for action.  <3


Friday, September 13, 2013

Chibi Alice...Face 13 of 29


29 faces


Here is face 13 of 29:


Pencil sketch


Colored with Letraset Aquamarkers


I used a tutorial from dragoart.com to draw my little Chibi Alice (you can find this specific tutorial HERE). The site has A LOT of other tutorials, mostly cartoon/manga/fantasy and the like, but it's worth a look around for sure.  Like I said, Alice is done in Chibi style.  Chibi is a Japanese slang word that means "short person" or "small child" (I actually think it's not a nice word to call a person, so don't go calling your short Japanese pal Chibi, because you may lose a friend...).  The Chibi art style is characterized by small, childlike, cute figures that tend to be disproportionate (large head, little bodies and the like).  

I had fun with Alice, and tried to follow the tutorial as closely as I could.  I just drew her on cheap printer paper, in case I messed her up, but I actually like her quite a lot, so I think I'm going to have to make her again in one of my art journals...Maybe I'll even have to make a whole series of Chibi Alice in Wonderland characters!

I just thought I'd show the result of my temper tantrum from yesterday as well:


There is something very cathartic about ripping papers and smashing them onto the page...

While it doesn't solve everything, making throw-away art like this helps me to calm down a little when I'm upset.  It's one of the few times that I don't have to worry about "over-thinking" the page in any way.  I just want to tear up paper and grind it into the glue...there's a lot of rage in this collage.  I don't think I'm done with this yet...there's still a bunch of junkie crap in my brain that needs to come out, but the overflow that was happening is done.  Those around me no longer have to fear getting stabbed in the neck with a pencil (haha)...  I don't know where I'll go with this background, but so far the plan is to work on it tonight, when I'm alone for a couple of hours.  

Friday nights are usually the only alone time I get...which is often a source of frustration for me, because I like alone time.  I NEED alone time...peaceful, de-stressing, void-of-the-noise-of-other-humans alone time. It's the only way I can clear my mind of all the litter that amasses during daily life.  Honestly, right now, I could do with a whole month worth of alone time...there's a heaping huge amount of litter in my brain.  But month long solo life is not in the cards for me unfortunately.  I'll just have to enjoy my solitary Friday nights and make them count.

Ta-ta for now, my chums.  Don't forget about the giveaway on the 29th! <3